A Reston startup run by veterans, for veterans has been honored by the Commonwealth of Virginia for its efforts.

StreetShares, a small-business funding operation geared toward military vets, has received recognition as a certified company by Virginia Values Veterans. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe presented a first-place award from the program to CEO Mark Rockefeller during a Wednesday ceremony at the company’s headquarters (1985 Isaac Newton Square West).

“Exactly what you’re doing, we’re trying to do at the state level,” McAuliffe said. “We’ll be the first state in the United States of America that actually does that, to help our veterans who want to be entrepreneurs who need a little lift there.”

StreetShares has facilitated more than 1,000 loans for veteran-owned small businesses across the country, with many of those coming in Virginia.

“When I came back from Iraq in December of ’08, I realized that I was representative of a generation of veterans who would want to start businesses the way that our grandparents did after World War II,” said Rockefeller, a nine-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. “We had to solve that, as veterans do, by turning to each other — and that is what StreetShares does.”

John Harvey, Virginia’s Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, spoke during the event to praise both McAuliffe’s and StreetShares’ commitment to the commonwealth’s veterans.

“You invest in Virginia’s veterans and you invest in Virginia,” Harvey said. “It’s just the perfect combination for growth, for building that new Virginia economy that’s so important to our future.”

Also during the ceremony, McAuliffe announced that he is expanding the V3 program’s goal for hiring veterans within the state. Originally aiming for 10,000 veteran hires by the end of his term, the new goal calls for 25,000.

Today I'm proud to announce we are doubling down on our commitment to connect Virginia Veterans with great jobs in V3 companies! pic.twitter.com/pVx6aDgosc

Rockefeller said StreetShares would continue to do all it can to help toward the goal.

“The businesses that we are funding, each of them goes on to hire veterans, just like we have,” he said. “StreetShares wants to commit to funding companies to produce 1,000 of those [hires] toward [McAuliffe’s] 25,000 goal in the next 12 months.”

Each month, the StreetShares Foundation names 10 veteran-owned small businesses from across the nation as finalists for grant funding, made possible through a partnership with JPMorgan Chase. Online voting determines the top 3, which receive grants for $5,000 (first), $3,000 (second) and $2,000 (third).

Maggie Parker, vice president of communications for 1900 Reston Metro Plaza owner Comstock Partners, said Nestlé representatives toured the local site before making their decision.

The 16-story 1900 Reston Metro Plaza building, now in its final stages of construction, was designed by internationally acclaimed architect Helmut Jahn. It will feature 365,000 square feet of office space adjacent to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station.

The site that was chosen by Nestlé, 1812 N. Moore Street in Arlington County, is the tallest building in the D.C. Metro area at 35 stories. It has been vacant since construction wrapped up in late 2013.

Nestlé is spending nearly $40 million to set up in the top nine floors of the building, and it plans to employ 750 people at the site.

A women’s boutique and a clothing store both have plans to open on Market Street.

Scout & Molly’s is set to arrive at 11944 Market Street later this year, Reston Town Center announced Wednesday morning. The location is wedged between Ted’s Bulletin and Bowtie Cinemas, a space that was occupied by PR Barbers before it moved to Discovery Street last summer.

According to a press release, Scout & Molly’s “will carry a wide variety of designers to accommodate any fashion enthusiast’s taste, offering discerning RTC patrons distinctive ways to express their style in a friendly, comfortable environment.”

Scout & Molly’s has more than 30 locations nationwide and expects to double that number soon. It has stores in Merrifield’s Mosaic District and Ashburn’s One Loudoun.

On the other side of Bowtie Cinemas, the storefront that housed cosmetics store Origins (11932 Market Street) until it closed in January is also showing signs of life. Signage on the store’s windows indicates a J.McLaughlin clothing store is “coming soon.” Boston Properties spokesperson Rob Weinhold said more information about the incoming business would be “forthcoming at the proper time.”

The show, a celebration of rock bands with big guitar solos and bigger hair, will hit Reston on March 10. It features songs from Styx, Whitesnake, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister and more favorites from the ’80s.

“It is a privilege to direct the very talented cast of singers, dancers and actors in ‘Rock of Ages,'” said Joshua Redford, director of the production. “This is a show unlike any other.”

The musical is the story of Drew and Sherrie, an aspiring rock star and an aspiring actress, who try to prevent developers from turning the Sunset Strip into a strip mall.

The cast of the Reston production consists of the following performers:

Russell Silber (Drew)

Claire O’Brien Jeffrey (Sherrie)

Brett Harwood (Lonny)

Joey Olson (Dennis Dupree)

Ben Peter (Stacee Jaxx)

Brent Stone (Hertz Klinemann)

Rich Farella (Franz Klinemann)

Bruni Herring (Justice)

Evie Korovesis (Regina)

Melrose Pyne (Ensemble)

Kendall Mostafavi (Ensemble)

Jenny Girardi (Ensemble)

Chris Dore (Ensemble)

Philip Smith-Cobbs (Ensemble)

Erich DiCenzo (Ensemble)

The band includes Matt Jeffrey on keyboards, Christopher Willett on bass, Matt Robotham on drums, and Noah Dail and David Smigielski on guitars.

A number of these members of the Reston Community Players team were recently nominated for Washington Area Community Theater Honors awards for their work with the troupe in 2016.

“Rock of Ages” will be performed on the CenterStage at the Reston Community Center (2310 Colts Neck Road), March 10 through April 1. For showtimes, tickets and more information, call 703-476-4500 (ext. 3) or visit the Community Players online.

Faith and her sisters Charity and Hope are adorable 10- to 11-week-old lab/collie mixes — maybe even some golden retriever or shepherd in there as well, but it’s so hard to tell.

These gorgeous little girls love to play, but also enjoy just hanging out, as you can see in the pics. They’re all great company either way.

We’re sure that this terrific pup will brighten your day and make a most excellent new best friend for any lucky adopter. These precious pups go fast, so please send your application on in pronto so you don’t miss out.

This extremely friendly baby doll is going to bring lots of joy to some lucky adopters.

Are you and Faith (or Charity and/or Hope) a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.

Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?

Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.

Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.

Dinner Held to Support Police Families — A group in Great Falls raised over $5,000 for Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), an organization that supports families of officers killed on the job. 2nd Lt. Anthony Lampe of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station addressed a dinner audience, talking about his department’s recent brush with violence against police. [Reston Connection]

South Lakes Girls Win at the Buzzer — The Seahawks’ varsity girls basketball team won with a last-second layup last week. Alivia Damper passed to Kendra Williams, who scored the winning basket just before time expired as South Lakes beat McLean, 51-49. [DMVStream.com]

Seahawks Player Headed to Delaware — Sticking with SLHS sports, football player David Kroll is a top college recruit on the offensive line. He was planning to play for the University of Richmond, but he has now changed his plans and is committed to the University of Delaware. [Washington Post]